Nano-Clustering Mediates Phase Transitions in a Diastereomerically-Stabilized Ferroelectric Nematic System

During the last half-decade, a new class of ferroic-fluid, ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals (NFLCs), creates a noise owing to its exceptional properties such as a colossal polarization, high electro-optic activity plus high fluidity. Regardless of recent huge efforts on design and development of new NFLC molecules based on molecular parameters, the control of NF phase transitions and the stabilization of NF phase are still challenging. Here we discuss the impact of mixing of DIO diastereomer [transDIO (1) and cisDIO (2)] to the NF phase transition, in terms of the smectic cybotactic cluster formation examined by X-ray diffraction. Interestingly, the result suggests that smooth exchange of NFLC 1 by non-LC 2 both with similar dipole and molecular backbone plays a role in the alteration of the NF phase transition.
Comment: main paper has 29 pages with 5 figures; supplementary information has 62 pages with 40 figures and 2 Tables